The Washington critic., 1887-11-22
WASHINGTON, NOV. 90, 1887.
The THEATRE IN CONFERENCE.

The THEATRE IN CONfERENCE.
At the Methodist Conference In
Danville, Va, last Saturday, resolu.
,ion was adopted pronouncing the
theatre promoter of irreligion, i'm.
morality and Vice" and protesting
against It as q diversion not TO be
INDUCED in.
We are told that this resolution was
adopted by rising vote, which is
supposed to intensity the action of the
Conference and make its unauimity
more Impressive. The rising vote is
also employed ON oCca.iOus to intlmi.
date those who do mt thoroughly
believe in the proposition they are
calltd upon TO iudGrse. but who lack
the courage to make their autagOnisn
conspicuous by rcmlluing In their
seats. There must have been some
weak brethren Of this kind In the
Danville Conference IL Is not easy to
believe that In all that body Of intelli-
gent and presumably fa!r. minded men,
there were not at least u few who felt
that this sweeping deuuncIation of the
theatre was, In many respects, un.
warranted, and In It's beaing upon
many reputable persons, grossly un.
Just.
Had the Conference uttered It's pro.
nouncement against the illegitimate
drama, against immoral plays, against
the vicious accessories Of the stage,
nobody could have taken exceptions to
II, no matter how violent the language
of denunciation in which the resolution
had been couched. But "the theatre"
is q broad and comprehensive term. 1t
not only includes playwrights, per.
formers and performances, but all that
Is written for the stage and everything
In literature that is capable of dramatic
reproduction.
Our friends of the Danville Confer.
ence certainly could not have fully
understood the absurd and uncharitable
purport of their own resolution.
The theatre may not be the hand
maid Of the church, but neither is a
hotel, nor railroad, nor summer
watering. place, nor for that matter In
all cases, camp meeting. But that 1t
is an occupation furnishing subsistence
TO thousands of worthy people, calling
into action many bright and busy
brains and affording TO thousands upon
thousands mole of virtuous men aud
women happy hours of relaxation fro N
the cares and troubles of life, even so
solemn convocation as Methodist
Conference ought TO know.
The theatre may be perverted to bad
uses-may be made what the resolution
says 1t is-but as a rule, It is not so
perverted. AS a rule 1t Is of so high
an intellectual aud moral standing as
not only TO be tolerated, but encouraged
by every large Christian community
and as the world is better OIL for the
sun that shines, the rains that fall, the
winds that blow and all the subtle pro
cesses by which the face of nature 1;
made glad fer mans enjoyment, so Is
It the better of for the music thai
cheers, the art that ennObles, the drama
that wakes to higher impulses tht
human heart or tunes It's affections t
sweeter and tenderer keys.
THE New York Times this morning
contains an editorial which will NJ
doubt be reproduced In to morrow
mornings Post. 1t Is well calculated t
warn the cookies" of our esteemed
contemporary heart. Assuming tina
Mr.. Carlisle will undoubtedly be chosel
Speaker of the House, and that taril
reform Is the only national issue OF
which the Democratic party Is clearly
divided from the Republican party, tn,
Times insists that Mr.. Carlisle canno
safely permit Mr.. Randall to remain
upon the Appropriations Committee
Its insislence amounts to a summar,
and peremptory demand. 1T is Ger
tain as sunrise, II says, "that If Mr.
Randall is left TO himself he will defea
the tariff reform policy of the party
lie may be able to do so If he is not pu
upon the Appropriations Committee.
1t then goes on;
The safest, and the most consistent, honor
able and straightforward course for Mr.. Car
Isle, as the leader Of his party, is to put Ran
dali and his former followers to the test
Tariff reform Is the party policy Those VIII
will not accept 1t cannot be treated as mem
hers of the party In good standing. We be
lieve Mr.. Randall, without the distinct part
recognition he has heretofore received, coult
not hold his followers. With that recognitio
he will have no trouble In doing So II Is tn
duty of Mr. Carlisle and Of the majority /
force him and them to a choice
In other words, Mr., Randall mus
subscribe TO policy wholly diIrereu
from that upon which he has repeat
edy been elected 10 Congress, or h
must be read out of the party whic
elected him.
Nor only Is the Crown Prince c
Germany in declining health, but Prime
William, his eldest son, Is also an II
valid and troubled with assesses Of tn
ear that threaten serious brain troubl,
In case of the deceAse Of the grant
father, son and grandson, all three, tn
successor to the throne would be Prime
Williams son, Frederick, who Is oal
five years of age, thus necessItating
protracted regency. In the meantim,
Prince Bismarck Is getting older ever
lo,, opI il,ara pypnniuau tp Ia sn,h